Atlas Iron Ltd. said it expects iron ore mining at its Wodgina site to start early next month after receiving final government approval. The Perth-based company said it’s on target to ship ore through Utah Point in October and achieve iron ore exports at a combined rate of 6 million tons per annum from its Wodgina and Pardoo mines in Western Australia by December. That rate should grow to a rate of 9 million tons by the end of 2011 following the planned commissioning of the Abydos project, Atlas Iron said in a statement to the Australian stock exchange today.

Atlas Iron Ltd. will meet with lenders on Nov. 14 in New York to discuss a $325 million term loan the company is seeking for general corporate purposes, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction.